Vehicle storage system



June 28,1932. fs.. E; BuEr'rEl-.Ll

VEHICLE sToaAa SYSTEM Filed lay 11, 1928 June 28, 1932- s. E, Bum-TELL..

VEHICLE =a'llmArE SYSTEM 1111s@ uw 1-1. 192s' Qf 77116 72757.74 amaaiZ'wel/ June I28, 1932. s. E. BuE'r'rr-:LL

VEHICLE sTonAa ssmr 12 sheets-sheet :s

Filed May l1. 1928 June 28, 1932.

s. E. BUETT'ELL VEHICLE STORAGE SYSTEM 12 Sheejts-'Sheet 4 K Filed May11,1928

une 28 1932. s. E. BUETTELL VEHICLE STORAGE SYSTEM 12 Shasta-sheet 5Filed' May 11, `1928 www@ By fig@ WL June 28, 1932. s, E, BUETTELL, l1,864,711

vnarcLE sTonAa-E SYSTEM F116.; uw 11. 192s 12 sheets-snm' e` June 28,1932.

S. E. BUETTELL VEHICLE STORAGE SYSTEM Filed lay 11, 1928 12 Sheets-Sheet7 June 28, 1932 s. E'. auE'rrELL vnHicLE stromen sYsTEu 12 shuts-sheet eFiled Hay 11. 1928 June 28,1932. s. E. BUETTELL 1,864,711

I VEHICLE STORAGE SYSTEM Filed May 11, 1928 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 June 28,1.932.

IS. E. BUETTELL.

VEHICLE STORAGE sYs'rEu Filed nay 11. 192s- 12 sheet-slixeet 1o June 2s,1932.

S. E. BUETTELL VEHICLE STORAGE SYSTEM Filed May l1, 1928 12 Sheets-Sheet1l June 2,8 1932- s. E. BUETTELL 1,864,711

V l VEHICLE STORAGE SYSTEM Filed May 1l, 1928 12 Sheets-Sheet l2 W6 7gf/ O C mi g2 47 ig 6l @eg E73 Patented June 28, 1932l UNITED: sTArss `1irrl`11fl OFFICE SAMUEL n summum., or omesso, Immers, Assreiion l'rocaoss :PARKING stems, n

mc., or CHICAGO, rumors, a oonrozwrron or :minors v v mobilesvary as thelocation of the garage or vaincra stomen sYs'rEn Application med my 1i.192s.'- 'seriarim avessi.

The present' invention relates in general tol vehicle storage systemsand ,more particularly to such systems in which the vehiclesare placedin storage and removed therefrom by A. p

the operation of automatic and semifauto-` matic machinery. v .v n

The problems encountered in stormg autostorage structure varies. )Thatis, in highly congested districts, it is necessary: `that the automaticequipment function in a garage structure having -a great many stories inorder to conserve the amount ofland necessary. e In residential andotherareas where ground,-

is cheap the storage lstructure can advantageously be built to cover alarger area with areas there are often zoning ordinances which limit theheight of the buildings. In

residential areas also, it is not of great im portance to have theautomatlc storlng' equipment function at its highest speed as it is incongested districts, because the volume of traiiic is less and the timesof storing and delivering a vehicle are not especially imited'to therush hours. -Another consideration involved Which makes it desirable tolimit the height of the garage structure is the cost of the buildingstructure. That is, a structure in the nei hborhood of ten stories canbe built of bric or reinforced concrete at a great deal cheaper costthan that necessary for high buildings where steelA sky scraperconstruction is required.

In my 272,169, filed April 231928, I have/disclosed a vehicle storagesystem that is particularly adapted for congested metropolitan areaswhere sky scraper construction is necessar as Well as high speed ofautomatic vehic e handling equipment. The present invention isparticularly adapted to meet the requirements of storage systems inresidential areas where the storage structure comprises a comparativelyfewer number of stories and covers a greater area. The use of thisequipment renders the storage structure a great deal more eiiicient thanis usually the case, delivers the vehicle at a comparatively high rateof speed, reduces labor and maintenance fewer stories. Again inresidential and other prior application, Serial No.

every floor, even though *theA storage stalls l are not adjacent to theelevator hatchway.

" Another object is to associate automatic *vehicle handling machinerywith the eleva-l tor and adapt it to move off theelevator on any storagefloor to serve as many storage spaces as desired. 1

Another object isto provideautomatic machinery that will function tostore acar on either side of the storage structurepwhen it moves off theelevator.

:Another object is to provide jautomatio means for controlling thepositioning of the s automatic handling mechanism before any desiredstall. w u

Another Objectis to yprovide automatic controll means for the vehiclehandling mechanism so that it ,will function to obtain a vehicle fromany one ofthe pluralityof stalls on any floor and then `move onto .theelevator.

Another object is to provide protective l means for preventing movementofthe eleva- Y tor until the vehicle handling vmechanism 'is movedthereon to-' y -f A v A still further object is to prevent the ve,-hicle handling mechanism from movin off the elevator until the elevatoris automatically leveled at al particular floor.

Still another lobject is to provide means 'for preventing 'the vehiclehandling mechanism movinginto any storage space to place s. car

therein or retrieve a car therefrom, unless the vehicle handlingmechanism is properly.

In practicing my lnvention, I provide a relatively large elevator thatmight be termed a two position t e. That is, the elevator is about 14feet Wide. The vehicle handling mechanism is adapted to serve four 100stalls on eve iioor, two on each end of the elevator hatc wa withoutmoving oif the elevator. A trac ay is provided on each floor so as topermit the automatic handling in order to take care of traiiic,1t isnecessary that the automobiles be stored or retrieved in givesthe'number of storage stalls on eachan approximate interval of oneminute. In the present instance, it may be that two minutes orxlongercan be allowed for the functioning of the vehicle handling equipment.

" These traic studies determine the number of stalls that the automatichandling mechanism can advantageously serve. When the number of stallsis arrived at, it is divided by the number of floors i'n the buildingand this 'fioor that the elevator vehicle handling mechanism may serve.It will be seen that the number of these units, and consequently thenumber of elevators, since there is one vehicle handling mechanism oneach elevator, can be determined readily. By various studies of thecharacter, I have determined that the vehicle handling mechanismillustrated in the present invention will advantageously operate in abuilding of from one to fourteenA stories. In higher buildings it isdesirable that the vehicle handling equipment illustrated in my priorco-pending application above referred to be em loyed. The positioningmechanism carriedv y the lelevator is adapted to receive a car at theloading station, draw it into position on the elevator, move ittransversely either on the elevator or o the elevator into` alignmentwith the proper stall when the predetermined floor is reached, and thendischarge it,into this stall. This vehicle handling mechanism is alsocapable of operating in a similar manner to remove a car from one of thestorage stalls and deliver it at the delivery station. This automatichandling mechanism is of such nature that an elaborate type of buildingconstruction is not necessary, since the load of the stored cars may becarried directly by the building structure. It is also possible by theuse of this handling mechanism e uip- 'ment to bring the height of eachstory own to 9 feet 6 inches from slab to slab.

It will be appreciated .that since the vehicle handling mechanismautomatically moves the car, it is unnecessary to employ any chauiieursto move the vehicle into the storage spaces. Y Aga-in since theautomobile engine is shut off at the loading station and garage of whichmy invention is installed; Fig. 2 isa typical floor plan of one of thestorage floors in the garage of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view. of an elevator platform, showing in plan theautomatic veicle handling mechanism extended into a storage stall fromthe elevator with its position when moved off the elevator indicated bythe dotted lines; i v

Fig. 4 is a partialv sectional elevation through the garage elevatorhatchway and the storin mechanism on one of the elevators showing thevehicle handling mecha nism in position to place one of the cars instorage or to take one therefrom, being along the line 4.--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar sectiona elevation along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3,looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of'the automatic l' vehicle handling mechanismshowing the carrier frame, transfer frame and transfer truck;

Fig. with the transfer frame and lifted therefrom; Fi 8 is an elevation.alon of Fig. 6, looking in the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation through the. transfer truck, transferframe and carrier frame, and is taken along the line 9-9 of Fig, lookingin the direction of the arrows;

g. 10 is a plan view of the end ortion of the carrier and transferframes,- s owing the line d1rectio'n of the,

. 100 7 is a plan view of the carrier frame p transfer truck,

the vehicle track extensions in operated po.`

sition;

Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the track extensions in theirinoperative position;

handling mechanism, shown in Fig. 6;

' Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the end portion of the carrier framepartially in section, showing the manner in which the track extension issupported upon a bracket;

Fig. 14 is a plan of the transfer truck that actually moves the vehicle;Y

Fig. 15 is an elevation of the transfer truck along the line 15-15 ofFig. 14;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the vehicle Fig. 16 is a plan view of thetracks em- I ployed in the vehicle storage stalls and may be termedstorage racks;

building, for example,

While in the drawings my invention has been shown applied to a garagestructure built in the form of a rectangle, with en! trances on one sideand exits on the other, it" it is not limited. to but may be apwill beappreciated that a construction of this type, plied to any form ofgarage, even those havin entrances and exits on the same side. Whileonly twoelevators with their vehicle handling mechanisms are shown, oneor more may be advantageouslyy employed, de-

' pending upon the size of the ground that the garage is built on, thenumber of stories and the volume of traffic.

It will also be appreciated that this garage structure may form a partof a combination a theatre, apartment, building or hotel.

In the accompanying'drawings, like reference numerals refer to similarparts throughout. In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the plan of the typicalgarage structure 'shown is provided with two entrances l land 2- at eachend of the building. These entrances open on driveways that extend totwo elevators 3 and 4. The elevators are illustrated as being of the twoposition type, though one, two or three position elevators may beadvantageously employed. As'has-been mentioned before, the particular'type of vehicle storage system illustrated herein is adapted to be v ythe iioor, as will a advantageously employe in 'a building of from :oneto fourteen stories. It will beunthatin a singlestory andling equipmentwill move lon pear subsequently. Automobiles entering t rough one of theentrances 1 or 2, drive ina position opposite one of the vehicleelevators under their own power.' The automobile engine is then turnedoli", and the car may be locked in any manner desired. The automobile isnot moved again under 'its own ower until after deliveryto the customer.

aisedl platforms 7 provide for properly aligning the wheels of theautomobile so that they are lin va stright line. These platforms areusually constructedv of cementas an integral part of the floor. Eachentrance, 1 or 2, may be provided with a door that is preferablyautomaticall operated. Each elevator such as 3 is o sufficient width inthe present instance, so that two cars might be placed thereon. However,the automatic handling mechanism carried by the elevator and permanentlyassociated therewith, is adapted to handle only one car at a time,

though by this mechanism it is possible to` place an automobile into anyone of the plurality of storage stalls on though these storage stallsare lnot adjacent toA the elevatorv hatchway, as will appear. The speedof these elevators is determined to agreat extent by the exigencies ofthe particular garage in which they are located. l Exits 8 and 9 areprovided at opposite sides "of the building on the ground or loadingHoor and are ordinarily fitted with suitable doors any ioor, even thatmay beoperated in any desirable manner. The ioor is raised so as to formtwo vtraclrwaysfrom each .elevator to the exits. This insures that thevehicle will be properly guided towardthe exits. The space on \t eground lloor of the building between the entrances and the exits may beused for storage racks, waiting rooms, repair shop, or the like; .oragain it might be used on the entrance side to provide additionalentrances, inasmuch as the automobile handling mechanism is adapted tomove from the elevator. Another suggested modification would be that theentrances and exits might be the same; in this case turn-tables would beproaov vided so as to properly position the cars leavy mechanism'uponthe i apted to take a vehicle from one of the entrance positions anddevposit it to any of the stalls on anyiioorg i whether this elevatorhatchway ing, or not, and to tion in order to deliver a car.-

. A stairway'l() is usually provided in order to give access tothe'various floors for .fire protection or otherl urposes.` Each of theelevators moves in a s aft or hatchwayvwhi'ch extends upward toward thetop of the building. A 'by-pass type'of fire door is provided on eitherside of the elevator on every fioor, to provide entrances tostoragestalls adjacent to the elevatorhatchways. To provide lmeansoperative to permit the vehicle handling mechanism to move transverselyofi' the elevator onto any storage floor, a by-pas's type of re door isprovided at the side ofthe elevator. This tire door is'of the truckablesill type and is cut away at points adjacent to the rails that thevehicle carrier runs on, and small sections of rail are mounted thereonin a manner that will appear. The elevators are constructed with theirguides at theends instead of the sides, as usual practice. The placingof the' guides at the end of the elevator is necessitated by the factthat the vehicle handling mechanism moves off the elevator. Thismounting of the elevator guides at the ends makes a two position typeofthe elevator, that is one about fourteen stall is locatedadjacent tothe on either side ofthe buildperform a similar operafeet wide, the mostadvantageous since the least storage space is lost by this construction.The use of the tire doors as mentioned before, completely closes theelevator shafts,

f do not have to ybe of the truckable sill type,

for reasons that will be explained. f The various fire doors on eachHoor may be automaticallyoperated when the elevator comes to a positionto receive a vehicle or discharge one, or'to place one in storage.

So far as the building construction is concerned, it may be the usual-type employed for -lower buildings, wherev brick orr reinforcedconcrete is employed. The individual storage stalls are simply made upof standard structural shapes, forming trackways adjacent -to each otherand arranged tier on tier.

Fig. 2 illustrates a typical plan of one of the storage iioors, showinthe vehicle handling mechanism of each o the elevators 3 or 4 haveaccess normally to ten stalls, five on each side.4 It will beappreciated that the vehicle handling mechanism on either elevator maymove into the territory normally served by the vehicle handlingmechanism on the other elevator, if for any reason it becomes desirable.It will be understood that each of the other storage lioors are laid outin a similar manner. elevator goes out of service, the vehicle handlingmechanism on the other elevator can serve all stalls normally served bythe mechanism on the other elevator, with the exception of the fourstalls on each floor adjacent to the other elevator hatchway. Ifnecessary, the cars stored in these four stalls may be moved to otherstalls in any suitable manner such as by providing a sling arrangement.that may be attached to the car and moving on the rails attached to theceiling of the arage Hoor.

It will be appreciated that one elevator may be employed to serve thearrangement shown,

unless the volume of traflic requires the installation of anotherelevator. The volume of trailic may require another elevator in certaintypes of buildings, in which instance, the elevator would be insertedbetween the elevators 3 and 4 illustrated. In this particular event, thevehicle handling mechanism on the middle elevator would be adapted tomove in either direction oli the elevator.

. Under these conditions, the elevator hatchway would be provided withfour by-pass type fire doors on every floor. y

Referring now toFig. 4, a plan view of the vehicle handling mechanismextended into one of the stalls to the left of the elevator hatchway isshown.v The vehicle handling mechanism is mounted upon an elevatorplatform 15, which is provided with three rails 16, running transverselyto the In the eventl that an stalls. The car handling mechanismcomprises a carrier frame 19, which is built of standard structuralshapes in the form of a rectangle, and is mounted upon flanged wheels20, travelling on the rails 16. These wheels rotate in bearings 21,formed by two triangular-shaped structural members 22, eX- tendingbeyond the carrier frame structure 19 itself, and firmly secured to thisstructure in any suitable manner. There are six of these flanged wheels,as ma be seen in Fig. 3.

The wheels 2O are prefera ly of roller bearing construction, in order toreduce friction.

While I have shown six wheels supporting the frame 19, a smaller numbermay be employed. The carrier frame 19 carries on either' side,automobile wheel tracks 23, which comprise two angles 24 and 25. The legofv the angle 24 being upstanding and the leg of the angle 25 beingdepending. The angles 24 and 25 are held to the carrier frame 19 bysuitable bolts 26, fitting into slotted holes 27. The head of the bolts26 are countersunk so that they are flush with the angles. The slottedholes are provided so that the angles 24 and 25 forming the trackwaysmay be adjusted as to spacing between them so as to obtain a meanspacing that will accommodate all gauges of automobile wheels.

At each end of the carrier trame 19, there is Fprovided two movabletrack extensions 28 1 g. 10), that operate to bridge the gap between thetracks carried by the carrier frame and racks of the storage stalls.Each of the extension tracks 28 is carried upon a suitable triangularshaped bracket 29 (Fig. 12), that is pivoted upon a shaft 30, rotatablyheld in the bracket 31, bolted to the carrier frame 19. Slotted holes(not shown), are also provided, so as to permit adjustments as to thegauge between the extension tracks 28, the whole supporting bracket 29being moved in this 1nstance. Bearings 32 (Fig. 13), are preferably ofthe anti-friction type, taking both a thrust and a radial load. Theextension tracks 29 are normally held in their inoperative position byspiral springs 33, litting over the shafts 30, and having one of theirends fastened to the carrier frame 19, and the other ends atiixed to thebrackets 29, (Fig. 12). It will be appreciated that the extension tracks28 are provided on either end ofthe carrier frame, and are constructedin identically the manner described. The manner in which thesetracks areswung outward, into the position shown in Fig. 10, will be describedsubsequently. A plurality otanged wheels 34, ten in number, are mountedupon suitable bearings. 35 in brackets 36, attached to the cross members37 of the carrier frame 19, (Fig. 7). An axle` 38 connects each pair ofwheels 34. The carrier frame -19 also has mounted'upon it, electricalcontrol equipment, comprising the various switches and relays necessaryto control its operthereto.

ation. This control e uipment may be mounted in the control oxes 39 oneitherv side'of the carrier frame 19, (Fig. 7 A platform 40is mounted onone side of the carrier frame between brackets 22 supporting the flangedwheels 16. A 3 H. P. electric motor 41 is mounted at one end of thisplatform and serves to drive a worm 42 through the gear reducingmechanism 43 and a suitable brake 44. iBoth the gear Areducing'mechanism 43 and brake 44 may be of any well known or desired type. Thefunction of the brake 44 is to stop the motor rotation when the motorcircuit is opened. A worm gear 45 is mounted upon the shaft 46 and isadapted to mesh with the worm 42. The shaft 46 is mounted in suitablebearings 47 and 48 held in brackets 49 affixed to the cross members 37.The other end of the shaft 46 carries a pinion 50 which meshes with arack 51, carried on the underside of the transfer frame 52, (Fig. 8). Acable reel 53 is suitably mounted on one end of the carrier frame 19 andcarries a cable 54 that passes over the Aidler pulley mounted upon oneof the axles 38 connecting the wheels 34.- The cable 54 is adapted tosupply electric energy to the mechanism carried by the transfer frameand transfer truck. On vthe opposite end' of the carrier frame 19, thereis mounted a platform or bed plate 56, in any suitable manner. A 5 H. P.electric motor 57 is mounted upon the base or bed plate 56, and servesto drive a sprocket 58, (Fig. 8), through the medium of the gearreducing mechanism 59 and the brake 60. As before, the gear reducingmechanism and the brake may be of any suitable construction. The brakeis provided for bringing the rotation of the motor 57 to a stop at theproper time. The sprocket 58 is adapted to transmit power to thesprocket 61, mounted upon the shaft 62, which is held in suitablebearings 63 and 64 in the brackets 22.

A spul' gear 65 is suitably splined to one end of the shaft 62 and isadapted to mesh with the spur gear 66 suitably affixed to the adjacenthanged Wheels 20 soas to transmit power The other end of the shaft 62has a spur gear 67 that is adapted to transmit power to the adjacentflanged wheels 2O through the spur gear 68. Power is thus transmittedfrom the motor 57 to the shaft 62 and thence to the flanged wheels 20 oneither end of the carrier frame 19, to provide for the .transversemovement of this unit. The plat- 1 ed on and carried by the flangedwheels 34 attached to the carrier frame, (Figs. 8 and 9). The transferframe 52 comprises two channel members 69, suitably bolted to a plate 70. Suitable angles 71 are bolted to the channels 69 with theirupstanding le forming a track upon which the transfer rame 52 rests onthe flanged wheels 34 carried by the carrier frame 19. Racks 72extending the whole length of the transfer frame 52 are mounted upon theupper side of the plate in any suitable manner, (Fig. 6). Two rails 73suitably spaced apart also extend the full length of the transfer frameand are suitably mounted onr` the plate 70. A cable reel 74 of standardconstruction carries a cable 75 that is adapted to supply energy toelectrical equipment carried by the transfer truck 76.

The transfer truck 76 comprise essentially a steel casting 77 (Fig. 9),that is supported on four flanged roller bearing wheels 78 (Figs.`9 and14) that run on the rails 7 3, Supported by the platform 70 of thetransfer frame 52. A motor 79 is mounted on the steel casting 77 and isadapted to drive a spur gear 80 that meshes with the spur gear 81vmounted on the shaft 82 connecting the roller bearing wheels 78. Thepinions 81 mounted upon the shaft 82, mesh with the racks 72, mountedupon the latform 7 0 of the transfer frame 52, (Fig. 9 The operation ofthe motor 79 is thus adapted to drive the transfer truck 76longitudinally of the transfer frame.. An electric motor 73 is suitablymounted on the transfer truck structure 77 and drives a bevel gear 84.The bevel gear 84 is adapted to mesh with the bevel gear 85, splined tothe shaft 86, which is formed on either side, into the roller armspreader screws 87. The shaft 86 is supported on the truck frame 77 bymeans of bearings `88 which may be of the anti-friction type and arekept from shifting Y shaft 93 is positioned at each end of the truck,projects on either side, and is adjustably held in place by the setscrews 94. At the end of each roller arm 92, there is rotatably mounteda roller 95 on a shaft 96, the open ends of the roller arms 92 beingheld against inward movement by tubular sleeves 97. At each end of eachroller shaft 96, there is provided a roller idler wheel 98 of slightllar er diameter than the diameter of t e rol er 95. transfer truck areadapted to engage a set of the vehicle` wheels when in extendedposition, as shown by Vthe dotted lines. The idler rollers such as 98are for the purpose of reducing the friction encountered in The fourrollers 95 carried by the 4 fastened a roller arm 92. A roller arm gui el 'through which are fitted pins 100 that serve (Fig. 15). l

moving the vehicle as they take the load of the car. In order tomaintain the roller arms 92 in their proper position, these roller armsare rovided with extensions 99,

er arms are extended, is provided for the pur pose .ofoperating certaincontrol circuits as will appear. The mechanical construction of thisswitch Vis immaterial and its electric function will be describedsubsequently. A cover plate 102 (Fig. 9), is fastened to the transfertruck casting 77 and serves to en close the motors 79 and 83, as well asthe other mechanism to protect it from dirt and injury.

Thetransfer frame 52 carries attached to the channel members 69, twoangles103, having their longer legs extending outwardly, (Fig. 9). Theends of these angles are somewhat rounded as may be seen in Fig. 10, soas to provide a cam surface for the rollers 103 mounted in the brackets104, attached to the angles 29, supporting the extension tracks 28. Itywill be seen that by this construction, when the carrier frame 1sextended in one direction, the track extensions 28 are swung intoalignment with the tracks 23 of the carrier frame, in order to bridgethe gap between the carrier and a storage rack, as will appear. When thetransfer frame is extended in the other direction, the extension tracks28 at the other end of the frame, are

operated in substantially the same manner.

The vehicle tracks 23 on the carrier frame ywhich are formed by angles24 and 25, are

separated somewhat, and this separation serves as a guide for theautomobile wheels. These tracks also carry concave depressions 105 atone end, (Fig. 3), the carrier frame I beams 19 being cut away to permitthe forma tion of these depressions. These depressions are for thepurpose of maintaining the automobile in position upon the carrierframe, even when the rollers 95 of the transfer truck 76 are not inposition adjacent to the vehicle wheels.

The electrical circuits are controlled b v switches that aremechanically operated through the movement of the vehicle handlingmechanism. These switches may be placed in any position that is desiredand their function will be described when the electrical controlcircuits are explained. There is a limit switch that is adapted to beoperated only when the transfer lframe is extended in the position undera vehicle at the loading station and the vehicle is propfunctionin morespeci cally described in the discussion of the electrical operatingcircuits.

In order to provide stalls for the vehicles, a plurality of racks areemployed which form erly positioned at the loading station. The i of allthis equlpment will be.

trackways supported above the floor 'in each of the storage stalls 14.The construction of the racks can be seen in Figs. 16 to 18, inclusive.The Vehicle tracks are formed by angles 115 and 116, being laid parallelto each other and bolted in place on channel brackets 117. The angles115 and 116 forming the trackway are held in position by clips so thattheir spacing may be altered to comto prevent the movement of thevehicle. The

location of the depressions 118 Vin the wheel tracks formed bythe angles115 and-116l of the storage racks may vary, depending upon whether therear or the front wheels of the vehicle would rest in the depressions,Iwhen placed in stora e in an of the racks on one side of the buil ing.hus, on one side of the building, the front wheels of all storedvehicles would rest in these depressions and on the other side of thebuilding the rear wheels of all stored vehicles. Since the rear overhangof an automobile is greater than the front overhang, it will be seenthat the depressions in the racks on one, side of the building, will bedifferent than on the other. This variation is provided for in the elec--trical control circuits, as will appear. The

ends'of the tracks facing the carrier frame are cut diagonally so thatthe swinging track brackets 28, the ends of which are cut on acomplementary angle, form a continuous trackway from the vehicle storagestalls to the tracks of the carrier frame, (Fig. 10).

This permits the automobile to be moved from the carrier frame 19 to thestorage stall over from the loading station to a storage stalll and froma stall to the delivery station and shall then give a detaileddescription of the electrical circuits controlling the functioning carat the loading station before elevator 3,., With the front wheelsproperly positioned so` as to prepare an operating circuit for the motorcontrolling the roller arm spreaders. In order to load the car, if thecarrier frame is not positioned in alignment with the vehicle at theloading station, the elevator operator will move his controller to theright or left, depending vupon the direction of his travel and the motor57 will be operated to apply power to the wheels 16, to move the carrierframe 19 transversely into alignment with the loading position of thevehicle. When in the loading position, as determined by the operation ofthe limit switch, 'controlled by the carrier frame 19, the circuit ofthe motor 57 is opened and the brake 60 is operated to bring the carrierframe to rest -before the car with the trackways 23 on the carrier framein alignment with the vehicle wheels. The vehicle Wheels are properlydirected by the raised parts of the floor 7 in the entrance Way. Thetransfer frame 52 is now extended by the. operation of the motor 41, thepinion 50 and rack 51. Simultaneously therewith, the motor 79 isenergized to drive the transfer truck 76 toward the end of the transferframe that is extending through the medium of the pinion 8l andthe rack72. By the operation of the motor 4:1, the transfer frame 52 isextendeduntil it assumes the position with its end under the front end of thevehicle. The limit switch is then operated to de-energize the motor 41and operate the brake 44. The motor 79 is operated until the transfertruck 7 6 has been driven to the limit of the transfer frame, the loadof the transfer truck being carried by the wheels 78 and the transfertruck being propelled through the medium of the pinion 81 and the rack 72. When the transfertruck reaches its limit, the motor 79 iscle-energized and the forward movement of the truck 76 ceases. Thetransfer frame 52 has itsload sup orted on the ten wheels 34 and ispropelled byl the pinion 50 and the rack 51. When the transfer truck andtransfer frame have been positioned, as described, the rollers 95 are inposition adjacent to the front wheels of the ve; hicle. Now if the`vehicle isproperly positioned at the loading station, a switch on thetransfer frame is Loperated to bring about the completionof a circuitfor the motor 83. 1t wilho-f course, be understood that as the transferframe is extended in position, the cammed ends ofthe angles 103 engagethe rollers 1041` and the extension trackways 28 swing out intoalignment with the carrier` vehicle tracks 23. The operation of themotor 83 entends the roller arm spreadcrs 90 on either side so that therollers 95 are projected on either side of the front wheels of thevehicle. The motor 83 is then de-energized and a circuit is made up forenergizing the .motor 41 and the motor 79. The motors 41 and 79operatedto move the transfer frame 52 and the transfer truck 76 in themanner described. The transfer truck and transfer frame now co-operateto move the vehicle v.onto the tracks 23 of the carrier frame.` Themovement of the transfer frame is stopped when it reaches its centerposition. The movement of the transfer truck ceases when the back Wheelsof the vehicle strike the depression 105 in the tracks 23 in amanner-that Will appear. This'places the vehicle with its rear wheels ina certain Adefinite position on the carrier frame. When the transferframe 52 reaches its center position, the operation of the springs 33serve to swing the brackets 29, carrying the track extensions `28, backto their normal unextended posi# tion. It will be noted that the rollerarms 92 are pivoted on the ends, the roller arms spreaders 90 beingforced upwardly by the tension of the springs 101. This constructionpermits the rollers 95 to follow the track discrepancy, should there beany variation in the level, also if the elevator is not also level. Theidler rollers 98 support the load of the vehicle and permit the rollers95 to turn with the wheels, should the wheels .be locked or haveanytendency to bind. This construction prevents the car from raising upover the rollers under these conditions. By this ioc construction, it ispossible to move the car,

even though all four Wheels are locked.

The elevator operator may now raise the elevator to the proper .floor onwhich lhe desires to store the car. When the elevator reaches thisfloor, the three fire doors on this iioormay be automatically opened.The elevator operator will now operate his carrier controller in suchdirection, so as to bring about the transverse movement of the carrierframe 19, through the medium of the motor 57, which applies power to thewheels 16. The motor 57 is operated only if the elevator is properlyleveled and the doors are properly opened. Iny moving off the elevator,the carrier frame 19 moves onto rails on each floor which eX- tendtransversely of the building. The gap between the elevator and the ilooris bridged by a truckable sill type` door, which is cut away at threepoints, and sections of rail 111 provided therein, (Fig. 3). Power istransmitted to the carrier frame by the cable 112 from the cable reel113 attached to the under side of the lelevator platform 15. The cable112 is brought over an idler pulley 114 in an operated to stop thetransverse movement 130 thereof. The transfer frame vehicle intoposition in the proper stall, assuming that the elevator operatordesires to place the car in storage upon the same side of the buildingas the loading station is on.

The vehicle is moved into the storage rack (such as is shown in Fig.16), until its front Wheels rest in the depressions 118 in the track.The motor 83 on the transfer truck is then operated to Withdraw theroller arm spreaders 90, and consequently the rollers 95 from positionon either side of the front Wheels of the vehicle and the transfer frameis moved back to normal by the operation of the motor 41. The elevatormay then be returned to the loading floor.

This is the normal 'operation in the event a vehicle is stored in one ofthe storage stalls onthe same'side of the building from which it wasloaded. The operation is Somewhat different, in the event that theelevator operator selects/a stall on the opposite side of the building.In this event the operator will push a transfer button, during theupward movement of the elevator, which will bring about the energizationof the truck motor 83, so as to Withdraw the rollers 95 from position oneither side of the front Wheels of the vehicle. The car is held inposition on the carrier frame bv the depressions 105 in the trackvvay23. When the roller arms have assumed their normal position, the motor79 is energized to drive the transfer truck 76` to the other end of thetransfer frame into position opposite the rear Wheels of the vehicle.The transfer truck motor 83 is now operated to brine; about an extensionof the roller arms until the rollers 95 are on either side of the rearWheels of the vehicle. When the proper storage floor is reached, thethree doors, two

of Which giveaccess to the two storage stalls on either side, areopened, as Well as the third door carrying the truckable sill.. Thecarrier 19 is then moved under control of the elevator operator intoalignment with the proper stall, and the transfer frame 52 and thetransfer truck 76 are operated to run the vehicle into the predeterminedstall or rack with the rear Wheels of the vehicle resting the trackdepressions 118 in the stall racks. The transfer truck motor 83 is thenoperated to with draw the roller arms to theirnormal position. Thetransfer frame 52 is then returned to its normal position by theoperation of the spiral springs 33, as the transfer frame goes into itsnormal position, (Figs. 10 to 13). The elevater may now be returned toits loading floor in any well known manner.

lt will be understood, of course, that the elevator operator can movethe carrier frame and the vehicle into alignment with any one of thestorage racks in the stalls adjacent to the elevator hatchway. Theoperation is essentially the same as has been described.

52 and the transfer truck 76 are now operated to move theA When it isdesired to withdraw a vehicle from storage, the elevator operator moveshis elevator to the proper floor and then operates his controller tobring about the movement of the carrier frame 19 until it is alignedwith the proper stall. The transfer frame and transfer truck are thenprojected into the storage rack until the rollers 95 are positionedadiacent to one set of Wheels of the vehicle. The transfer truck motor83 is then energized to extend the roller arms until the rollers 95 areon either side of the vehicle wheels. After this operation, frame andtransfer truck are operated so as to brin the vehicle onto the carriertrack- Way in su stantially the same manner as before. The elevator maythen be dispatched to the discharging floor, the doors on the storagefloor closing automatically. When the elevator reaches the deliveryfloor, the operator may move the carrier 19 until the vehicle tracks Q3are in alignment with the exit and will then operate the transfer truckand transfer frame to roll the car into the delivery station. Thetransfer truck motor 83 is now operated to Withdraw the rollers 95 fromposition on either side of the rear Wheels of the vehicle and thetransfer frame is moved to its center position on the carrier frame.

In the event that an automobile is taken from a storage stall on a side.of the garage opposite the discharge station, the transfer truck 76ispositioned upon the vehicle carrier 19 in substantially the same manneras before described. The other operations all occur as set forth.

Attention is directed to the fact that since one set of vehicle Wheelsof the car are always placed in a predetermined position on the carrierframe tracks, the variation in the Wheel base of the vehicle does notinterfere in any Way with functioning of the automatic handlingequipment.

It will be understood that there are certain protective arrangements andcircuits provided so that the. elevator cannot be moved the transferwhen the transfer frame is in extended position, nor can the carrierframe be moved transversely at this time. Also the elevator cannot bemoved while the transfer frame is out on a floor, nor can the carrierframe move transversely when the transfer frame is eX- tended. Itis alsonecessary that the elevator be approximately level withy the desiredfloor and that the doors thereat be properly opened in order to bringinto play the functioning of the automatic equipment.

The manner in which the electrical circuits'

